Canada downs Taiwan, to play for 5th

KAZAN, Russia(July 13, 2013) – The Canadian women’s volleyball team downed Taiwan in four sets of 27-25, 14-25, 25-20 and 27-25 on Saturday afternoon to advance to the consolation final for fifth place at the 27th Summer Universiade.

Canada (2-2) wraps up the tournament against Japan (3-2) Sunday at 3 p.m. local time (7 a.m. ET) and will be looking to better or match the third best result in program history at the FISU Games.

In 18 previous appearances at the biennial competition, the Canucks’ top-three finishes are a pair of fourth places in 1997 (Sicily, Italy) and 1983 (Edmonton), as well as sixth in 1985 (Kobe, Japan).

The duel against Taiwan looked anything but a consolation contest, with the rivals fighting for every point until the final whistle. It was only fitting that two of the four sets went to overtime.

Kyla Richey, a senior national team member from Roberts Creek, B.C., led the way on offence with 13 kills. Lisa Barclay of Brandon, Man., added nine, while Dana Cranston of Fort St. John, B.C., had eight.